LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                             January 31, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Kenneth Armbrister, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Criminal Justice
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB219  by Armbrister (Relating to disposition of
               out-of-county crimes.), As Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would allow a defendant arrested on a warrant issued in another
county to enter a written plea of guilty or nolo contendere and waive
jury trial in cases where another court has jurisdiction. A magistrate
could accept a written plea of guilty or nolo contendere, set a fine,
determine costs and indigency, accept payment, credit time served, or
discharge the defendant upon satisfaction of the judgment. Before the
eleventh business day after accepting a plea, the magistrate would have
to transmit to the court of jurisdiction the written plea, any fine or
costs collected, and any orders entered in the case.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.   

The Comptroller of Public Accounts and various court precincts, detention
facilities, and sheriff's departments were contacted regarding the
fiscal impact of the bill. The number of cases that would be adjudicated
under the provision of the bill, as well as the fees and costs assessed,
cannot be determined.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, JC, DB